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Environmental, Social & Governance

We are committed to playing our part in delivering a vibrant and sustainable future

DM's values sit at the heart of what we do. Our #ONETEAM philosophy is much more than a value statement – it is enhancing the wellbeing of our staff and the communities we work in while reducing our impact on the environment

We don’t treat ESG as a checkbox – it’s embedded in how we grow, lead and deliver impact. By aligning our ESG goals with core business strategy, we make smarter decisions, drive long-term value and stay ahead of change. 

  • Our ESG strategy and reporting are aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which we support wholeheartedly
  • We're committed to bold climate action, aligning with SDG 13 and targeting Net Zero by 2030
  • We build inclusive teams, empower communities and champion equity, driving progress on SDGs 5, 8 and 10
  • Our governance is transparent, accountable and built to lead, supporting SDG 16 and setting the standard for responsible business
  • We tie leadership accountability to ESG performance and embed sustainability into every decision 

This is ESG done right — strategic, measurable and built for the future.

Aerial view of a large building with solar panels on the roof, surrounded by green grass. Multiple parked cars are visible in the parking lot, along with neighboring buildings with solar installations, set in a natural landscape.
For me, ESG isn’t just a framework — it’s a reflection of what we stand for. It’s about making choices that matter, building a business that gives back and creating a future we’re proud to be part of. Every step we take toward sustainability is a step toward something bigger than ourselves.
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Our ESG goals

  • Environmental

    We’re not waiting for 2050. We’re hitting Net Zero by 2030

  • Social

    We’re building a thriving ONETEAM culture that people chase, not just choose – and take that energy into the community to create lasting, meaningful impact

  • Governance

    We lead with integrity, not bureaucracy. Our governance is bold, transparent and built to earn trust, every decision, every time
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Environmental standards

We take our responsibility towards environmental protection very seriously – from helping our clients protect endangered species and achieve Biodiversity Net Gain in their projects, to running our own operations in the most energy-efficient way possible. 

In January 2025 we were awarded a silver medal for our EcoVadis sustainability rating (top 15%). EcoVadis is the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, scoring performance across 21 indicators in four themes: environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. We’re proud of our achievement which reflects our true commitment to Net Zero and are pushing to achieve a gold medal (top 5%) by next year.

Environmental areas of focus in 2025 and beyond

Carbon emissions:

It is our intention to achieve Net Zero status by 2030. Our active initiatives include:

  • A mileage review for all employees
  • Implementing the Octopus EV and Cycle2Work Salary Sacrifice schemes, and encouraging the use of human-powered and public transport and car-sharing wherever possible
  • A new travel booking platform and car sharing platform to reduce car usage

Energy:

We want to reduce our energy consumption and its environmental impact by:

  • Regularly auditing energy conservation in all offices and making appropriate changes to our infrastructure and work habits
  • Working with our landlords to adopt renewable energy sources wherever possible
  • Considering energy as an important factor in future office selection

Waste management:

We have a number of waste policies in place, led by the Green Team, including:

  • Recycling initiatives
  • Composting programmes
  • Choosing eco-friendly suppliers
  • Paperless policies, such as digital documentation and comms/collaboration tools
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  • Logo of BSI certification indicating ISO 50001 Energy Management Certified. The design features a heart symbol integrated with the letters B and S, accompanied by the text 'ISO 50001 Energy Management CERTIFIED'.
  • A simple black silhouette of a shopping bag with two handles, representing retail or shopping.
  • A circular silver badge with the text 'SILVER | Top 15%' and 'ecovadis Sustainability Rating' along with 'JAN 2025' displayed prominently, indicating a sustainability certification.

Meet the DM Green Team

The Green Team is all about action, from implementing energy-efficient practices to reducing waste and championing eco-friendly initiatives. We believe that small changes can lead to monumental differences, and it's this spirit that drives our commitment. We're not just striving for a healthier planet but also enhancing the quality of our work environment and our collective wellbeing. 

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A group of people engaged in conversation in a modern office space. Two individuals at the foreground, one smiling and another looking attentively, sit at a large table with coffee cups and smartphones. A large audience seated in a theater, facing a stage with four speakers discussing an agenda displayed on a screen. The room is well-lit, showing attentive participants.

Social standards

Our culture is rooted in the principle of ONETEAM. While we've grown to a 600-strong workforce over the past 20 years, we've worked hard to maintain this founding principle of collaboration, communication and knowledge sharing. We call this the DM Way: the way we operate, deliver and turn up every day. 

The strong workplace culture we've nurtured is reflected in our excellent eNPS score of +50 (Autumn 2024), our low employee turnover rate of 10%, and a ‘Gold’ certification from the 5% Club, which recognises the UK’s leading employers of apprentices and graduates. We constantly strive to bring tangible benefit to our employees, clients, suppliers and communities. 

Social areas of focus in 2025 and beyond

Equity: 

We’re committed to:

  • Closing the Mean Gender Pay Gap for Salary by 2030
  • Carrying out periodic pay equity audits
  • Completing talent and succession planning
  • Ensuring that unbiased hiring practices are in place

Happiness and engagement: 

Our thriving culture is reflected by our eNPS score of 50 in Autumn 2024, rated ‘excellent’, but our aim now is to achieve a score of 80 (rated 'world-class'), by:

  • Continuing to assess happiness, with a focus on:
    • Reviewing career growth opportunities
    • Foregrounding psychological safety
    • Cultivating positive relationships at work
  • Continuing to champion wellbeing initiatives through the DM Way
  • Recognising achievement through Cheers for Peers and shoutouts in our company-wide Monday Morning Meeting

Social engagement: 

Every other year, Dalcour Maclaren chooses a charity to support as part of its commitment to ESG, CSR and community engagement. In 2025 and 2026, our charity is Brain Tumour Research.

At the heart of our culture and our values is our belief in a ONETEAM ethos. We believe getting involved as a team in charity events strengthens us as a company.

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What is the DM Way?

The purpose of DM Way is to foster a ONETEAM community that is open and accessible to all of our employees, transcending role, level or discipline within the business. 

There are 6 key projects that DM Way delivers:

  • Employee survey twice a year to measure engagement and happiness
  • Quarterly engagement/awareness campaigns on topics such as Belonging and Inclusion, Innovation and Technology Awareness and Finance 101
  • Health and fitness to encourage healthy practices, including walking meetings and office yoga
  • Quarterly events such as the summer DM Conference, Christmas party and outward-bound days
  • Charity partnership, including fundraising and volunteering
  • Hobby and interest groups such as craft club, running club and barbecuing club to encourage relationship building across teams, offices and seniority levels
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We focus on happiness as well as engagement as a metric for measuring the success of our workplace culture, and the results speak for themselves. 91% of our team agree that Dalcour Maclaren is a great place to work.
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A group of people engaged in conversation at a conference or networking event. A young woman in a navy shirt and glasses is smiling while holding a phone. Others around her display varying expressions and attire. A group of people engaged in a discussion at a table, with a woman in the foreground speaking and using hand gestures. The setting appears to be a modern conference room.

Governance standards

Robust governance is the bedrock of our operations. We're committed to clear, ethical practices and making decisions openly. It’s how we protect everyone involved, stay accountable and build a stronger, more reliable future together.

In 2025 we plan to publish our first ever DM ESG Annual Report, which will provide updates for our ESG goals and strengthen our accountability framework.

Governance areas of focus in 2025 and beyond:

Structure:

We are conscious of our Board and Senior Leadership Team composition, making sure that we:

  • Have diversity of thought at Board and Performance level
  • Define and develop the Remuneration Committee’s purpose

Transparency:

Our focus is on the following policy updates:

  • Put in place a Code of Ethics outlining acceptable behaviours and practices
  • Develop an ESG Risk Management Framework alongside the existing risk framework
  • Continue to invest in sustainability reporting and verification
  • Introduce a new policy platform with enhanced user experience to make it more accessible to staff

Ethical Supply Chain:

We want to ensure we have the policies and infrastructure in place ensure an ethical supply chain by:

  • Having a supplier code of conduct and procurement policies
  • Investing in a transparency and traceability programme to map of our supply chain
  • Engaging with our suppliers to improve their practices
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  • A circular logo featuring a five-petaled flower design above the text "SafeContractor APPROVED" with a blue background. The website "www.alcumusgroup.com" is displayed at the bottom.
  • Logo of BSI certification indicating ISO 50001 Energy Management Certified. The design features a heart symbol integrated with the letters B and S, accompanied by the text 'ISO 50001 Energy Management CERTIFIED'.
  • A simple black silhouette of a shopping bag with two handles, representing retail or shopping.

Compliance specialist

If you have any ESG questions, get in touch

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Compliance

Matt Plato

Compliance Manager
MSc

Matt manages our five ISO certified management systems including environmental and energy, to help drive DM towards Net Zero.

Contact Matt